WEBVTT SITUATION IS A BAD BUSINESS DEAL. >> IT IS A POLITICAL HIT JOB. IT IS ELECTION SEASON RIGHT NOW. JESSICA: HE IS DEFENDING HIMSELF TO NEWS 9 AFTER A FILMMAKER IN CALIFORNIA FILED A CIVIL LAWSUIT AGAINST THE NEW HAMPSHIRE STATE REP CLAIMING HIM -- CLAIMING THAT HE ASSAULTED HIM IN JUNE. >> THERE WAS THE INTENTIONAL CONDUCT OF ASSAULT. JESSICA: IN THE LAWSUIT, JONATHAN CARTER SAID HE FORMED A FILM COMPANY WITH FRANK. HIS ATTORNEY SAYS HE HAS SCREENSHOTS OF FRANK. HE SAYS IT IS ALL A SCAM AND HE GOT INTO BUSINESS WITH CARTER THINKING HE DID TOURISM. >> HE IS A MASTER. THAT IS WHAT HE DOES FOR A LIVING. JESSICA: THE CIVIL SUIT SAYS HE BECAME UPSET DURING FILMING AND THE NEXT DAY HE WENT TO CARTER HOUSE AND ASSAULTED HIM, ANOTHER CLAIM THAT HE DENIES. >> THE POLICE CHECKED INTO THIS. AND FELT IT WAS ALL UNTRUE. HE FIGURED HE WOULD CAPITALIZE ON THIS SITUATION. JESSICA: HE IS RUNNING FOR REELECTION IN ROCKINGHAM DISTRICT SIX. HE BELIEVES THAT THOSE

A New Hampshire lawmaker is defending himself against a civil lawsuit that claims he assaulted an adult filmmaker. State Rep. Frank Sapareto, R-Derry, is the subject of a California lawsuit that alleges he attacked the filmmaker.>> Download the FREE WMUR appSapareto chalks the situation up to bad business deal and a scheme to get money out of him before the Nov. 6 election.“It's a political hit job,” he told New 9. “It’s election season right now, and that’s what you do: You accuse someone.”According to the lawsuit filed by Jonathan Carter, Sapareto allegedly assaulted Carter in June.“We're seeking damages both for the assault as well as punitive damages for the intentional act of assaulting Mr. Carter,” said Eric Dubin, Carter’s attorney.Prosecutors declined to file charges against the Republican state lawmaker based on Carter's allegations because of insufficient evidence, said Simi Valley police Sgt. Steve Shorts.Police issued a citation to Sapareto for a misdemeanor battery investigation and referred the case to the Ventura County district attorney's office, which declined to file criminal charges due to insufficient evidence, Shorts said.In the lawsuit, Carter said he formed a company with Sapareto to produce adult movies and said Sapareto wanted to star in the first film.Dubin said he has screenshots of Sapareto on camera with a woman. “I have seven hours of video footage of Mr. Sapareto filming adult scenes,” he said.Sapareto it’s all a scam and that he got into business with Carter thinking he worked in the tourism industry. “I haven't see any of these things, and again, he's a master of – that's what he does for a living,” Sapareto said. “And that's what he told me: If I didn't give him the money, he was going to destroy my political career.”The civil suit said Sapareto became upset during filming, and the next day he went to Carter's house and assaulted him. Sapareto also denies this claim.“The police checked into all of that and found it was all untrue,” he said. “But since he knew I had a previous issue, that he figured he would capitalize on that. This is a political hit job just before the election. And I'm already going to file extortion charges against him."Sapareto is running for re-election in Rockingham County District 6. He believes those who know him will believe his account of what happened."I imagine this is probably just another bump along the way," he said.Sapareto, who is in his seventh term in the House and is vice chair of the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee, previously served in the state Senate. In 2013, he was convicted of simple assault for pushing his girlfriend's adult child, but served no jail time. He once sponsored legislation to change the simple assault laws so that any fight entered into by "mutual consent" would only be a violation, not a misdemeanor. That bill failed to pass the Legislature.The Associated Press contributed to this report.

LOS ANGELES —

A New Hampshire lawmaker is defending himself against a civil lawsuit that claims he assaulted an adult filmmaker.

State Rep. Frank Sapareto, R-Derry, is the subject of a California lawsuit that alleges he attacked the filmmaker.

Sapareto chalks the situation up to bad business deal and a scheme to get money out of him before the Nov. 6 election.

“It's a political hit job,” he told New 9. “It’s election season right now, and that’s what you do: You accuse someone.”

According to the lawsuit filed by Jonathan Carter, Sapareto allegedly assaulted Carter in June.

“We're seeking damages both for the assault as well as punitive damages for the intentional act of assaulting Mr. Carter,” said Eric Dubin, Carter’s attorney.

Prosecutors declined to file charges against the Republican state lawmaker based on Carter's allegations because of insufficient evidence, said Simi Valley police Sgt. Steve Shorts.

Police issued a citation to Sapareto for a misdemeanor battery investigation and referred the case to the Ventura County district attorney's office, which declined to file criminal charges due to insufficient evidence, Shorts said.

In the lawsuit, Carter said he formed a company with Sapareto to produce adult movies and said Sapareto wanted to star in the first film.

Sapareto it’s all a scam and that he got into business with Carter thinking he worked in the tourism industry.

“I haven't see any of these things, and again, he's a master of – that's what he does for a living,” Sapareto said. “And that's what he told me: If I didn't give him the money, he was going to destroy my political career.”

The civil suit said Sapareto became upset during filming, and the next day he went to Carter's house and assaulted him. Sapareto also denies this claim.

“The police checked into all of that and found it was all untrue,” he said. “But since he knew I had a previous issue, that he figured he would capitalize on that. This is a political hit job just before the election. And I'm already going to file extortion charges against him."

Sapareto is running for re-election in Rockingham County District 6. He believes those who know him will believe his account of what happened.

"I imagine this is probably just another bump along the way," he said.

Sapareto, who is in his seventh term in the House and is vice chair of the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee, previously served in the state Senate. In 2013, he was convicted of simple assault for pushing his girlfriend's adult child, but served no jail time. He once sponsored legislation to change the simple assault laws so that any fight entered into by "mutual consent" would only be a violation, not a misdemeanor. That bill failed to pass the Legislature.